The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-08-19


Jsuy rassls. ~ nurasess = samuel
Uneher than sugsr she DlagFnce efn1nng-
ing-nlts Farewell Letter - ME- wise nnd
Childres and Ons - Jnil 0uard League
~. LOUIS, Aug. e.--Jerry Pagsls. Who
va 20 have been hung on the 18th Tor the
murder Of Samuel Kohn In November. ls1c'
was found dead In his cell this morning.
having committed suicide by opening
. v9in In his arm. when discovered
Pagels was lying upon his left side, up
on the bent arm. the right arm being hall
extended. and the fingers Of both hands
bent and spread apart - II In muscular ~
sistance 70 physical pain. Under the COT,
which was pulled out from the cell wall
about six inches. WIS the iron cell bucket,
into which PAgels' life blood had dropped.
The wound through which the prisoners
life had ebbsd away was exactly inside
the elbow. II was three inches long. an
inch deep, and amply accounted for the
painful position OF Pagels' body and the
expression Of suffering upon hts face. He
had tied : shoestring tightly around the
arm halfway between wrist and elbow,
to prevent the return Of blood TO the heart.
His pockets were searched by d.
rection Of Deputy Coroner Hennessy, and
knife found. II Is . strong iron instru
mcnt known as the I. X. L., and about i've
inches long. Its blade was well worn, but
sharp Is sandstone could whet IL. After
making . wound Of satisfactory dimen-
sions, Pagels had closed the knife and
placed Il in his right-hand pocket, and
then settled back to await the death OF his
own choosing, which was 10 save his family
and his memory the ignominy Of . public
execution. 50 that Il could still be said;
" He died BY his own hand"
The following letters were found in the
cell OF the murderer. They indicate .
deliberate intention OF self-murder, and
give an insight into the mans real charac-
ter. disclosing passions which stimulate x
good or evil purposes would make him q
saint or . cold blooded murderer. Hi
theology seems to have been as badly
mixed Is bis genera ideas Of right and
wrong.
The first letter is addressed 70 his wife;
He musfl ST. Louis JAIL
I not hang. Aug > 1881.
ssealed in my prison cell in deep thought Of
my once beloved hour:
BELOVED WIFE: DEAREST BELOVED Chill
pRES: This Is the last letter shall ever write
upon this earth, and by its means convey q
you all my best beloved ones. my last thoughts
and my last farewell. Is IL . lasts TRUST not
and will take comfort and in the hope n 70
union in another. in better world
You all know only too we'll the unfortunate
circumstances which have resulted In my pre-
mature end I will not in my last moments
dwell upon the details Of that shooting. which
our courts maintain was done deliberately, pre-
meditatedly and feloniously. Only this much
viii say for my justification. I. my dear wife
you know your husband. with whom you have
lived honorably and peacefully for score o
years and you my children. you know your father
and 70 you all leave the decision whether an
capable OF cold-blooded murder. repeat now
in NV last hour OF life. and shall maintain II u
the presence OF our Lord. before whose throne Q
Judgment shall soon appear, that the shooting
was not done deliberately nor cold-bloodediy
( Quite to the contrary-wrought up by evil pas
J sion which overpowered and mastered m.
brains and held them in vise-like bondage
/ robbiIg me for the time OF nv good and col
/ lected sense. the most unfortunate deed wa
I done. which am held responsible for. and an
! about 70 take my own life. Though shoui
4 above all other things like 10 leave this worl
I with no ill-feelings. yet can not but reiterat
that had not fair and just trial. nor even
I satisfactory jury 70 pronounce Judgment upo
me one OF the 1urymen. as you will remember
not having been citizen Of this country.
But my doom is sealed: that which
called earthly justice has had 10 victim. and
am 70 take my own life TO satisfy my reveng
10 be sent 10 meet my Master IN Heaven, vn
viii. doubt not. AFFORD that which sought K
in vain durD the time OF my captivity-i mea
mercy.
s.Now. M beloved ones. l beseech not
worry. not TO take my doom too hard. p'
rather succumb to the inevitable.
.Keep M your spirits and face Il all WI
strength and a. good grace as possible .
Who is father TO widows and orphans. +
who feeds the birds In the air. He who sa,
come 70 me all We who are den with sorro
ana grief. He win not forsake my poor wifi
my true. faithful ana brave helpmate OF TWEEN
wears and my fatheriess children To him
pray with my last breath 70 be your shield IN
your protector.
sCarry your troubles ever 10 God and kes
independent OF the people. for there IL but u
lie true christianity found nowadays ha'
found out that 70 my SORROW more man on
during the long duration Of my troubles
my beloved ones have almost done vii
( 10th this letter and my earthly career. and
think the last memento can offer you all -
| commit 70 your hearth few words OF y
Lords prayer. They are:
and lead US not into temptation
III you will say these with oil your heart az
soul, and always keep their meaning iefo
vOu. then need not Tear Tor your Iuturt Hse
NOW. my dear. faithful wife and believe
children, all could say 20 you further ca
sum up in . very few words. God bless "
, all. and have you in His holy keeping. forev
and forever Amen.
Farewell. farewell. From your true fathe
"FREDERrCK GIRARD PAcKrs-
: ssTime fs drawing TO close Ny hours .
/ short on earth. and soon will stano before
; more merciful Judge than Judge Norraile.
. gave me no earthly show. did not have y
money.
, my dear wife and darling children do a
: grieve: bear up under this terrible ordeh q
Q think kindly OF your unfortunate fathe.
Q good which already know you are for ~
70 meet you all on the shores OF time, Nhe
. trouble comes not and prisons and farce tr7'
!. ere no more. Farewell. all. May Heaven Die
care and protect you In an hour Of sad misfo
une. for God lovcth thee.
: Amen"
with the letter 70 his family was one
+. jail Guard League:
I 81. LOUIS JAN July 4 -
4 FprExp Al. LEE: Though writing 70
\ with the intention Of expressing the srate'
I ness that your kind and generous trcasm
!. hes awakened. feel how utterly incapso
\; An. even in the smallest degree, 70 perm
. thas which would BE- but pleasure. tnesef
I. regret I she moro that ~ may never % 70
y newer % evfuce my gratitude toward Joe.